Uttarakhand Minister Stops Daler Mehndi On Stage Over Drinking Claims

A cabinet minister in Uttarakhand interrupted a live performance by Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi, alleging that the artist was drunk on stage. The incident occurred on Sunday night during the cultural evening of a local development fair in New Tehri. Subodh Uniyal, who serves as a state cabinet minister and represents the Narendra Nagar Assembly seat, walked up to the stage during the event. He told the singer that the audience had gathered to hear him perform live and expected him to meet their standards. The minister also questioned if the artist was singing live or using a pre-recorded soundtrack, and pointed out that the event coincided with the holy period of Navratri, which requires proper decorum. According to the minister, authorities had paid lakhs of rupees for the performance and covered travel and stay costs, only for the singer to arrive in an intoxicated state and fail to deliver. Video footage of the public confrontation quickly spread across social media platforms on Monday, while representatives for the singer did not respond to media requests for comment.

Context

Cultural festivals held during religious periods like Navratri in northern India usually follow strict community standards for public behavior and local tradition. Public disputes between politicians and visiting artists during high-profile state-funded events often attract heavy social media attention and public debate.